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Past modals – It must have been terrible!

Put students into pairs. Students take turns to explain their situations and their partner responds, choosing an appropriate phrase from their list. Encourage students to give more details about the situation.

STUDENT A

1 Tell your partner about these situations.

a You tripped up when you were getting off the bus and hurt your knee.

b You were woken up last night by a terrible howling noise, but you don’t know what it was.

c You spent the whole of last weekend spring cleaning your apartment.

d You can’t find your mobile phone anywhere.

e You accidentally went out wearing one blue shoe and one black shoe.

f You’ve just found out a work mate has been spreading gossip about you at work.

2 Listen to your partner telling you about some situations. Choose from these phrases to respond.

He must have forgotten.	She must have been joking.
It must have been freezing!	You must have felt embarrassed!
It must have tasted terrible.	It must have been very difficult.

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STUDENT B

1 Listen to your partner telling you about some situations. Choose from these phrases to respond.

You must have looked funny.	It must have been the wind.
You must have felt furious!	It must have been painful.
You must have left it at home.	You must have been exhausted!

2 Now tell your partner about these situations.

a Your grandmother told you that she used to be spy.

b You went swimming in a mountain lake in April.

c You accidentally made a cake with salt instead of sugar.

d You managed to learn how to make a website, using only an out-of date library book.

e You called for the bill in a restaurant, only to realise you’d left your wallet at home.

f You spent all day yesterday waiting for the electrician to come, but he never showed up.

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